Compressor-controlling mechanism



1. OLIPHANT.

COMPRESSOR CUNTROLUNG MECHANISM. APPLHIATIUN FILED UCT- 20.1915- RENEWED AUG. \3 \920. 1,375,656. P te ted Apr. 19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET x.

I. HM H um'rso sTArs s PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN 01:23am, or cmcnco, rumors, As'sienon 'I'O sumuvm comramr, A coaroancuon or msssncncsmrs.

MACHINERY COMPRESSOR-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Appllcation filed October 20, 1916, Serial No. 126,793. Renewed August 13, 192p. Serial No. 403,289.

To alZ'whom it may comer n:

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressor- Controlling Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

invention relates to compressor controlling mechanism.

It has for its object to provide improved means for controlling the loading and unloading of a compressor. A further object of my invention is to provide improved means whereby a compressor used in connection with an air-lift or other system of pumpin material in fluid. form may be automati-' caly unloaded or loaded to maintain a. con stant level of the fluid pumped. A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved controlling mechanism for compressors whereby a plurality of the same maybe controlled and used in such a. mannor that they will be automatically unloaded inse quence, as, for instance, when the material pumped reaches rcdetermined levels, or automatically loader. in sequence, as, for instance, when the same falls below predetermined levels. These and other objects of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have, for purposes of illustration, shown two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, illustrating the same as ap lied to an air-lift system for pumping liqui In these drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a single unit constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. g is a detail sectional view of the unlo'ader controlling valve thereof.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of units such as shown in Fig. 1, con nected together in the form of a system, the compressor driving element or elements being omitted to facilitate illustration.

In the illustrative constmction shown in Fig. 1, it will be noted that. a compressorl is shown, the same being driven by any. suitable source of power, as, for instance, a motor 2, connected to the compressor shaft .3. In this instance, the compressor is. also illustrated as of the angle compound type, having a horizontal low pressure cylinder 4 This compressor receives air from a suitable inlet 6 and delivers the same from its low pressure cylinder 4 to an inter-cooler 7 wh ch communicates with the high pressure cylinder 5 in a well-known manner, the latter in turn delivering the air to a receiver 8. As shown, an unloadcr valve 9, which may be of any well-known construction, is also provided in the inlet so that when desired the compressor may be unloaded or loaded by operation thereof. i

In my improved construction, the pressure fluid in the receiver 8 is conducted through a pipe 10 to a down delivery pipe 11 of an air-lift pump the pipe in turn discharging into a foot piece 12 of that pump in such a manner as to force the liquid'in the well 13 up through a pipe 14 and into a reservoir 15. From this reservoir 15 the liquid is conducted through a pipe 16 to a riser 17 preferably located adjacent the compressor and having a float 18 therein, which float is, of course, thus responsive to the variations in fluid level in the reservoir 15. As shown, this float 18 is also provided with an upstanding rod 19 which is movable through a cover 20 of the riser, and is prov1ded upon its upper end with a. knife edge 21 engagcable with the free end of a lever 22. This lever, as shown, preferably carries a weight ,23 and is pivoted at its opposite end at 24 on the upper end of a short u standing link 25 which is in turn pivo at its lower end at 26 to a suitable support 27 which may, if desired, form a part of the riser cover. Controlled by this lever 22 and movable in a suitable chamber in the sup-. port27 is'a-reciprocable valve member 28 havingan annular flange 29 mtermediate its ends and one end 30 adapted to seat in a recess 31 near the'pivot 24 of the lever 22zand its other end 32adapted to seat inand close 36 in such a manner that, whenthe, valve 28 is raised by-the receiver-pressure, the 1-06 ter may act in opposition to the usua lgnn loader valve springs 3'Yand depress c sis; ton 38 and the unloader valve stenril .nected thereto, to close lthe'unloeder valve.

In the operation .ofthe construction shown" .110

we ong the stem 28. As shown, a pipe 1 a predetermined the same time keep down the automatic action in Fig. 1, it will be obvious that when the compresser, through the medium of the airlift mechanism, has caused the liquid to rise to a predetermined height in the reservoir 15, the float 18 in the riser 17 will be raised in such a manner as to lift the rod 19 thereof and lift the lever 22 about its pivot. This will release the valve 28 so that thereceiver pressure, acting through the pipe 34, will be r sufiicient to lift that valve from its seat over the mouth of the port 33 and thereby open communicationbetween the receiver and the piston'chamber 36 in such a manner as to cause the unloader valve 9 to be closed and the compressor to be unloaded. It will also obvious that, conversely, when the level of the liquid in the reservoir 15 falls below amount, the float 18 will drop and thereby operate the lever 22 and communication between the receiver 8 and the unloading valve piston chamber 36 above described, whereupon throu h the action of the springs 37 the unloa er valve will be opened and the compressor again loaded the air above the piston 8 escaping past the stem 28.

In t e construction shown in Fig. 3 it will be noted that a plurality of units of the con.- struction shown in Fig. 1 are illustrated in tandem the same being indicated at A B, (l, and and preferably being connector to the same intake main 40. In this system, it will also be noted that a single reservoir 1 ma be used, though this is not imperaive, t e system being adapted to use with separate reservoirs when desired. As shown herein, a single reservoir tap or pipe 42 ma alsobe connected with a single lon itudina-lly disposed pipe or main 43 whic is in turn connected to the several units through a series of branch pipes 44 with a series of risers 45. In these risers are carried floats 46, 47, 48 and 49 which are connected to the unloader valves through mechanism of the valve 28 to close the same construction as that hereinabove de in connection with the construction shown in Fi 1 so that it is unnecessary here to repeat 1; e description thereof.

owever, it will be noted that in this construction these floats 46, 47, 48 and 49 are arranged at different levels so that, as the fluid level rises in the reservoir 4-1, these floatsare raised in sequence in such a manner as tounload their compressors progressively as the reservoir is filled or to load the same as the reservoir is emptied.

It will be noted that in my improved construction all attention on the part of the operator is unnecessary, the compressor being unloaded or loaded as the liquid level in the scribed in detail -reservoir varies,in such a manner as to keepany desired level of liquid available andat power require- Itv will also be noted that the same reservoir for unloading is obtained when a pluraL ity of compressors is used, the mechanism then operating progressively to cut in or out the several compressors ina definite sequence as the liquid level varies. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will of course be understood that these forms of the same may be extensively modified without in any manner departing from the spirit of the invention, it being my intention to include all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an unloading apparatus, the combination comprisingacompressor, a pump connected therewith, a reservoir receiving material from said pump, and means controlled by the level of the material in said said compressor.

2. In a loading apparatus, the combination comprising a compressor, a pump connected therewith, a reservoir receiving material from said pump, and means controlled by the level of the material in said reservoir or loading said compressor.

3. In an unloading apparatus, the combination comprisin a compressor, a pump connected therewith, a reservoir receiving material from said pump, and means resp'onsive to variations in level of the material in said reservoir for successively loading and unloading said compressor.

4. In an unloading apparatus, the conibination comprising a compressor, a pump connected therewith, an unloading valve controlling said compressor, a reservoir receiving the material delivered by said pump and means res onsive tovariations in leve of the materialhn said reservoir controlling said unloading valve.

5. In combination, a compressor, a pump connected therewith, a reservoir receiving the material delivered by said pump, an unloader valve for said compressor, means for operating said unloader valve, and means responsive to variations in level of the material in said reservoir controlling said last mentioned means.

6. ln combination, a compressor, a receiver connected therewith, a pump connected to said receiver, a reservoir into which said pump delivers, a compressor unloader valve controllable by receiver .pressure, and controlling means therefor tions in level of the material in said reservoir.

ceiver connected therewith, a nected to said receiver,

the material pumped, a

ump cona reservo r receiving riser connected with responsive to varia-- said reservoir, a float'ih said riser, an unloader valve for said compressor, and means controlled by said float controlling said unloadcr valve.

8. In combinatioma compressor, a pump connected therewith, a reservoir receiving the material delivered by said pump, a riser connected with said reservoir, an unloader valve for said compressor, and means responsive to the variations in level of the li uid in said riser controlling said unloader va ve. V,

9. In combination, a compressor, a pump connected therewith, a reservoir receiving the material delivered by said pump, a float carried in said riser,.an unloader valve for said compressor, means controlling said unloader valve, and operative connections between said float and said controllingmeans.

10. In a fluid pumping system, t e com- .bination comprisin a plurality of compressore, pumpin mec anism connected therewith, means or receivin the fiu'id pumped by said mechanism, an means controlled bythe level ofthe fluid in said receiving means for unloading said compressors.

11. In a fluid pumping system, the combination comprising a plurality of compressors, pumpin mechanism connected therewith; means or receiving the material pumped by said mechanism, and means controlled by the level of the fluid in said receiving means for progressively unloading d compressors. 12. In a fluid pumping system, the combination comprislng *a plurality of compressors, pumpin mechanism connected therewith, means or receiving the material umped by said mechanism, and means controlled by the level of the fluid in said receiving means for progressively unloading said compressors and subsequently loading the same.

13. In a fluid pumping system, the combination comprising a plurality of com-' pressors, pumping mechanism connected therewith, means for receiving the material pumped by said mechanism, and means controlled by the level of the fluid in said re ceiving means for progressively unloading said compressors and subsequently loading the same in inverse order.

14. In a fluid pumping system, the combination comprising a lurality of comprcssors, pumping meclianism connected therewith, means for receiving the material pumped, a plurality of risers connected to said receiving means, unloading mechanism for said o mpressors, and means carried in said risers and responsive to different variations in love} of the material in said receiving means or controlling said unloading mechamsi'n.

15. In a fluid pumping system, the combination comprising a plurality of compressors, a plurality of pumps connected therewith, a reservoir receiving the material pumped, a single tap communicati with said reservoir, a sing e main commnni 'ng with said tap, a plurality of risers connected with said main, unloader valves for said compressors, and means controlled by the variation in level of the fluid in said risers for operatin said unloader valves.

16. In a uid pumping system, the combination comprising a pluralitv of compressors, a plurality of pumps connected therewith, a reservoir receiving the material pumped, asinglc. tap communicating with said reservoir, a sing e main communicating with said tap, a plurality of .risers connected with said main, unloading valves for said compressors, and means controlled by the variation in level of the fluid in said risers for operating said unloader valves in sequence.

17. In a fluid pumping system, the combination comprising a plurality of com pressors, a plurality of pumps connected therewith, a reservoir receiving the material pumped, a single tap communicating with said reservoir, asingle main communicating with said tap, a plurality of risers connected with said main, unloader valves for said compressors, and means controlled by the variation in level of the fluid in said risers for successively actuating said valves to 'load or unload said compressors.

a compressor, a receiver connected therewithg'pumping mechanism connected with said receiver and operated by fluid pressure therefrom, said pumping mechanism drawing material from a source independent of said receiver, a reservoir separate frdm said receiver and receiving material delivered by said pump, and means controlled by the level of the material in said reservoir for loading and unloading said compressor.

20. In a fluid pumping system, in-comhination, a plurality of compressors, one or more receivers connected therewith, pumping mechanism operated by fluid pressure from said receivers, means for receiving the fluid delivered b said mechanism, and means controlled by the level of the fluid in said last named receiving means for loading and unloading said compressors.

21. In a pumping system, a source of fluid pressure, a plurality of pumping units, a reservoir for receiving the material from said units, and means operative at different levels of the material in said reservoir for successively controlling the flow of fluid from said source to said units.

22. In a pumping system, a source of fluid pressure, a plurality of pumping units, a reservoir for receiving the material from said units, and means operative at different stages of filling of said reservoir for controlling the flow of fluid from said source to said units in such a manner that all the units are operated at the lowest stage and a part of the units at the highest stage.

23; In it pumping system, a plurality of air lift pumping means, a reservoir to re ceive the material from said pumping means, and means successively controlled by the level of material in said reservoir for controlling the flow of operating fluid to said pumping means'to operate the latter.

24. In a. pumping system, a plurality of 20 pumping means, a reservoir to receive the material from said pumping means, and automatically operating means controlled by the level of material in said reservoir for causing said pumping means to be thrown 25 into operation successively and to be stopped successively.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN OLIPHANT. 

